Eight-pin electrical connector and usb connector

ABSTRACT

An electrical connector and a USB connector are provided. The electrical connector includes a main connector housing having an upper pin housing and a lower pin housing. A stereo plug that protrudes from a front surface of the main connector housing lies between the inner surface of the lower pin housing and the inner surface of the upper pin housing. The electrical connector is adapted to connect to a jack. The upper pin housing and the lower pin housing are adapted to connectively engage a forward plug port housing of the jack. The jack is mounted within the casing of an electronic device such as a hand-held personal computer, a personal digital assistant, a wireless telephone, or a paging device. When the electrical connector is connected to the jack, the upper pin housing is inserted into an upper housing receiving port and the lower pin housing is inserted into a lower housing receiving port so that the electrical connector is mated to the casing of the electronic device. The improved USB connector includes a connector body, a USB connector plug, an alignment post and electrical power contacts on each side of the alignment post. A locking latch may be disposed along an upper surface of the alignment post for engaging a locking latch detent disposed in an interior upper surface of the alignment post port.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] This invention relates to electrical connectors for use withelectronic devices, and more particularly, relates to an improvedeight-pin connector for use with electronic devices.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Electronic devices such as wireless telephones, hand-heldcomputers and personal digital assistants use a variety ofpower/data/audio connector/jack combinations for transferring power,data and other electrical signals to and from the electronic devices.For example, electronic devices equipped for audio input/output includean audio output jack for receipt of an audio connector for presentingaudio output to a user. Prior art audio output connectors often includea four-pin stereo plug that can mate with and accept signals fromstandard four-pin stereo contacts and an additional four-pin plugarranged adjacent to the four-pin stereo plug for additional electricalconnectivity. The physical size associated with such prior artconnectors becomes relatively large compared to modern electronicdevices that are very small and lightweight. Consequently, the audioplug becomes obtrusive and cumbersome, and often contact between theconnector and the electronic device is difficult to maintain.

[0003] Additionally, modern electronic devices, such as personal digitalassistants, include jacks for other types of connectors, such as powerconnectors and universal serial bus (USB) connectors. Prior art systemsinclude a USB connector for mating to a USB jack and a separate powerconnector for mating to a power jack. As is often the case, a user of apersonal digital assistant may have a number of connectors attached tothe personal digital assistant at any given time. That is, the user mayhave an electrical connector for providing audio signals to a speakerdevice, the user may have a USB connector connected to the personaldigital assistant for transferring data to and from the personal digitalassistant, and the user may have a power connector connected to the PDAfor providing electrical power. The problem with this arrangement isthat the mass of the various cords and connectors attached to thepersonal digital assistant often overwhelm the mass of the personaldigital assistant and thus places strain on the various connectors andjacks which may cause damage to the connectors and jacks and which maymake use of the personal digital assistant cumbersome.

[0004] It is with respect to these and other considerations that thepresent invention has been made.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] In accordance with the present invention, the above and otherproblems are solved by an improved electrical connector and an improvedUSB connector.

[0006] According to one aspect of the present invention, an improvedelectrical connector includes a main connector housing having an upperpin housing and a lower pin housing. The upper pin housing has an outersurface and an inner surface where the outer surface forms a continuoussurface with the surface of the main connector housing. The upperhousing has a pair of electrical contact pins disposed along the innersurface of the upper housing.

[0007] The lower pin housing is disposed in spaced-apart relation to theupper pin housing, and the lower pin housing has an outer surface and aninner surface, where the outer surface forms a continuous surface withthe surface of the main connector housing. The inner surface of thelower pin housing faces the inner surface of the upper pin housing. Thelower pin housing has a pair of electrical contact pins disposed alongthe inner surface of the lower pin housing. The electrical connector ofthe present invention also includes a stereo plug that protrudes from afront surface of the main connector housing between the inner surface ofthe lower pin housing and the inner surface of the upper pin housing.

[0008] The electrical connector is adapted to connect to a jack. Thestereo plug of the electrical connector is adapted to connectivelyinsert into a plug port of the jack. The upper pin housing and the lowerpin housing are adapted to connectively engage a forward plug porthousing of the jack.

[0009] The stereo plug includes a plurality of electrical contact pinsfor engaging a corresponding plurality of electrical contacts disposedalong an interior surface of the plug port of the jack. The pair ofelectrical contact pins of the upper housing engage a corresponding pairof electrical contacts disposed along an upper surface of the forwardsection of the plugged port housing of the jack. The pair of electricalcontact pins of the lower housing likewise engages a corresponding pairof electrical contacts disposed along the lower surface of the forwardsection of the plug port housing.

[0010] The stereo plug has a plurality of contact pins. The contact pinsof the stereo plug may include a microphone contact, a right speakercontact, a left speaker contact, and an analog ground contact. The pairof electrical contact pins of the upper housing may include a clockcontact pin and a digital ground pin. The pair of electrical contactpins of the lower housing may include a data pin and a power pin.

[0011] The jack of the present invention is mounted within the casing ofan electronic device such as a hand-held personal computer, a personaldigital assistant, a wireless telephone, or a paging device. A facesurface of the forward section of the jack is flush with an exteriorsurface of the casing of the electronic device. An upper housingreceiving port is defined in the casing immediately above the uppersurface of the forward section of the jack. A lower housing receivingport is defined in the casing immediately below the lower surface of theforward section of the jack. When the electrical connector is connectedto the jack, the upper pin housing is inserted into the upper housingreceiving port and the lower pin housing is inserted into the lowerhousing receiving port so that the electrical connector is mated to thecasing of the electronic device.

[0012] According to another aspect of the present invention, an improvedUSB connector includes a connector body, a USB connector plug, and analignment post. The USB connector plug is defined along a first end ofthe connector body and protrudes perpendicularly from a front face ofthe connector body. The alignment post is defined adjacent to the USBconnector plug in spaced-apart relation to the USB connector plug andprotrudes perpendicularly from the front face of the connector body. TheUSB connector also includes a pair of electrical contacts defined on theface of the connector body. A first electrical power contact of the pairof electrical contacts is disposed adjacent to a first side of thealignment post, and a second electrical contact of the pair of contactsis disposed on the face of the connector body immediately adjacent to asecond side of the alignment post.

[0013] The USB connector plug is adapted for connectively inserting intoa mating plug port of a USB jack. The alignment post is adapted toconnectively insert into a corresponding alignment post port of the USBjack. The first and second electrical power contacts are adapted toengage corresponding first and second electrical power input contactsdefined adjacent to first and second sides of the alignment post port ofthe USB jack.

[0014] The alignment post includes an alignment post guide member thatis disposed along the first side of the alignment post for guiding thealignment post into the alignment post port. The alignment post has agreater length than the USB connector plug so that the alignment postinserts into the alignment post port prior to insertion of the USBconnector plug into the USB connector plug port to insure that the USBconnector plug is in a proper orientation when it is inserted into theUSB connector plug port. A locking latch may be disposed along an uppersurface of the alignment post for engaging a locking latch detentdisposed in an interior upper surface of the alignment post port forsecuring the USB connector to the USB connector jack.

[0015] These and other features which characterize the present inventionwill be apparent from a reading of the following detailed descriptionand a review of the associated drawings. It is to be understood thatboth the foregoing general description and the following detaileddescription are exemplary and explanatory only, and are not restrictiveof the invention, as claimed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016]FIG. 1 is a side elevation view of an illustrative prior arteight-pin audio connector and corresponding jack.

[0017]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an eight-pin electrical connectorand jack according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0018]FIG. 3 is a perspective pictorial view of an eight-pin electricalconnector according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0019]FIG. 4 is a perspective pictorial view of a jack according to anembodiment of the present invention.

[0020]FIG. 5 is a perspective pictorial view of a personal digitalassistant showing an exterior case of the personal digital assistant inphantom and illustrating a jack and mini-USB connector of the presentinvention.

[0021]FIG. 6 is a top-plan view of a personal digital assistant showingan eight-pin electrical connector according to an embodiment of thepresent invention.

[0022]FIG. 7 is a pictorial perspective view of a mini-USB connectorplug and a mini-USB connector jack according to an embodiment of thepresent invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0023] The following description of embodiments of the present inventionis made with reference to the above-described drawings wherein likenumerals refer to like parts or components throughout the severalfigures. The present invention is directed to an improved eight-pinelectrical connector and to an improved USB connector that includes anintegrated power connector so that a separate power cord is notrequired.

[0024]FIG. 1 is a side elevation view of an illustrative prior arteight-pin audio connector and corresponding jack. The illustrative priorart eight-pin audio connector 50 illustrated in FIG. 1 is adapted tomate with a jack 65. The prior art connector 50 includes a four-pinstereo plug 55 and an additional four-pin plug 60 for additionalelectrical connectivity. The four-pin stereo plug 55 is adapted to matewith the jack port 70 and the four-pin plug 60 is adapted to mate withthe jack port 80 and contacts 85. A cord 52 is adapted to the rearsection of the prior art connector 50. When the prior art connector 50is mated with the prior art jack 65, forces placed on the connection bythe weight of the connector 50 and cord 52 often place extensive strainon the electrical connections between the plugs 55, 60 and thecorresponding jack ports 70, 80. Over time, the connections become wornand electrical connectivity may be disrupted or lost. Additionally, dueto the size of the prior art connector 50 compared to modern small andlightweight electronic devices, such as wireless telephones and personaldigital assistants, the weight and size of the connector and cord mayoverwhelm the weight and size of the electronic device to which they areconnected to add further stress on the connections between the prior artconnector 50 and an electronic device to which it is connected.

[0025]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an eight-pin electrical connectorand jack according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shownin FIG. 2, an improved eight-pin electrical connector 100 is adapted formating with a jack 200. The eight-pin electrical connector 100 includesa cord 190 disposed along an upper surface of the eight-pin electricalconnector 100. As should be understood by those skilled in the art, thecord 190 may be placed along other surfaces or sides of the eight-pinelectrical connector 100 as desired. Protruding from a front side of theeight-pin electrical connector 100 is a four-pin stereo plug 105.Description of the connector 100 for use in audio connections is by wayof example only and is not limiting of the types of connections forwhich the connector 100 may be used. The connector 100 of the presentinvention may be used as a vehicle for a variety of connection pins tocorresponding contacts of a mating jack. For example, the connector 100may be used to transfer data to and from an electronic device via aconnection between the connector and a mating jack such as the jack 200described below.

[0026] According to the exemplary audio connector illustrated in FIGS.2-4, the four-pin stereo plug 105 may include a microphone contact 110,a right speaker contact 120, a left speaker contact 130, and an analogground contact 140. Disposed between the contacts 110, 120, 130 and 140are a plurality of insulators 180. As set forth above the contacts 110,120, 130 and 140 may be used for a variety of other types of electricaland data connectivity.

[0027] Above and below the four-pin stereo plug 105 are an upper pinhousing 170 and a lower pin housing 172, respectively. As shown in FIG.1, the lower pin housing 172 includes a pair of additional electricalpins, for example, a data pin 150 and a power pin 160. Referring to FIG.3, for a different view of the eight-pin electrical connector 100, theupper pin housing 170 includes additional electrical pins, for example,a clock pin 192 and a digital ground pin 196.

[0028] A jack 200 according to an embodiment of the present invention isillustrated in FIGS. 2, 4 and 5. The jack 200 includes a number ofcontacts for establishing electrical connectivity with the pins of theeight-pin electrical connector 100. As described above with reference tothe connector 100, the contacts of the jack may be used for a variety ofelectrical or data connections with the connector 100. By way ofexample, as shown in FIG. 2, a pendant bus clock contact 210 and apendant bus ground contact 220 are disposed along an outer surface ofthe forward end of the jack 200 for electrically mating with thecontacts 192 and 196 of the eight-pin electrical connector 100.Additional contacts may include a microphone input contact 230, aspeaker pass-through contact 240, a right speaker contact 250, a pendantbus clock contact 260, an analog ground for audio signals contact 270,and a pendant bus ground contact 280.

[0029]FIG. 4 is a perspective pictorial view of a jack according to anembodiment of the present invention. A number of other contacts aredisposed along the other side of the jack 200 and may include, forexample, a pendant bus power contact 215 and a pendant bus groundcontact 220 for electrically connecting to the pins 150 and 160 of theconnector 100, illustrated in FIG. 2. Additional contacts of the jack200 may include a pendant bus power contact 265, a left speaker contact275, a pendant bus open collector data contact 285, and a microphonepass-through contact 295. Electrical connectivity between the pins ofthe eight-pin electrical connector 100 and the contact of the jack 200,and operation thereof, is well known to those skilled in the art.

[0030]FIG. 5 is a perspective pictorial view of a personal digitalassistant showing an exterior case of the personal digital assistant inphantom and illustrating a jack 200 of the present invention integratedwith the personal digital assistant 300. The jack 200 is integrated withthe personal digital assistant (PDA) 300 such that the front face 245 ofthe jack 200 is flush with the outer surface of the casing (shown inphantom) of the PDA 300. An upper housing receiving port is adapted intothe casing of the PDA 300 directly above the upper edge 248. A lowerhousing receiving port is adapted directly below the lower edge 249 ofthe jack 200. The receiving ports allow for insertion of the upper andlower pin housings 170, 172 of the eight-pin electrical connector 100,illustrated below with reference to FIG. 6.

[0031] Referring now to FIGS. 1, 3, 5 and 6, the eight-pin electricalconnector 100 is adapted for mating with the jack 200 so that thefour-pin plug 105 is inserted into the entry port 235 of the jack 200until the rear surface 141 comes into snug contact with the front face245 of the jack 200. When the eight-pin electrical connector 100 isconnected to the jack 200, the upper contact housing 170 slides over theupper edge 248 of the forward section 247 of the jack 200. The lowercontact housing 172 slides over the lower edge 249 of the forwardsection 247 of the jack 200. Thus, the pins 192 and 196 of the uppercontact housing 170 engage the electrical contacts 210 and 220 of thejack 200, and the pins 150 and 160 of the lower contact housing 172 ofthe eight-pin electrical connector 100 engage the contacts 215 and 225of the lower edge 249 of the forward section 247 of the jack 200.

[0032] Referring to FIG. 5, when the eight-pin electrical connector 100is connected to the jack 200, as described, the upper and lower contacthousings 170, 172 are inserted into the receiving ports integratedwithin the casing of the PDA 300 in order for the pins 150, 160, 192,196 to engage the corresponding contacts of the jack 200.Advantageously, insertion of the upper and lower pin housings 170, 172into the casing of the PDA 300 in order to achieve electrical contactbetween all pins of the eight-pin electrical connector 100 withcorresponding contacts of the jack 200 creates a secure fit between theeight-pin electrical connector 100 and the jack 200 and correspondingelectronic device (for example, the PDA 300) in which the jack 200 isintegrated.

[0033] The illustration in FIG. 6 shows a cutaway section of the PDA 300for illustration of the insertion of the four-pin plug 105 and the upperand lower pin housings 170 and 172 into the PDA 300 (jack 200 notillustrated in FIG. 6). The upper and lower pin housings 170 areinserted into the interior of the PDA 300 so that the eight-pinelectrical connector 100 achieves a secure connection with the jack 200integrated interior of the PDA 300. In contrast to the prior artconnector 50 illustrated in FIG. 1, stresses placed on the eight-pinelectrical connector 100 from contact with foreign objects or from themass of the eight-pin electrical connector 100 and cord 190 relative tothe PDA 300 place very little stress on the electrical connectionsbetween the pins of the eight-pin electrical connector 100 and thecontacts of the jack 200. Insertion of the upper and lower pin housings170 and 172 into the casing of the PDA 300 insures that vibration andstresses acting on the connection between the eight-pin electricalconnector 100 and the jack 200 are not directed to the electricalcontacts, but instead are directed to the housing of the eight-pinelectrical connector 100 and the casing of the PDA 300 which arestronger and less likely to be damaged by the introduction of stressesapplied to those components.

[0034] Additionally, by placing the additional four-pin contacts of theconnector 100 inside the upper and lower housings 170, 172, the overallsize and shape of the eight-pin electrical connector 100 is minimizedrelative to prior art connectors, such as the connector illustrated inFIG. 1. As illustrated in FIG. 6, the cord 190 is disposed along theupper surface of the eight-pin electrical connector 100. Thisorientation is advantageous if the electronic device 300 is a personaldigital assistant, wireless telephone, or other audio output device thatmay be carried in a shirt pocket or connected to a belt or otherlocation, where an upward orientation of the cord 190 reduces additionalstrain on the connection between the eight-pin electrical connector 100and the jack 200 integrated into the device 300.

[0035]FIG. 7 is a pictorial perspective view of a mini-USB connectorplug and a mini-USB connector jack according to an embodiment of thepresent invention. The USB connector plug 500 illustrated in FIG. 7includes a printed circuit board 510 connected to a plug main body 505.Along a front surface of the plug main body 505 is a mini-USB connectorplug 530 for passing data to and from an electronic device, such as apersonal digital assistant 300. Adjacent to the USB connector plug 500is an alignment post 525. Disposed on an upper surface of the alignmentguide 525 is a locking latch 540. An alignment post guide 550 is definedalong an inner side of the alignment post 525 for guiding the alignmentpost 525 into an alignment post port 565. On each side of the alignmentpost 525 is an electrical power contact 530.

[0036] Opposite the USB connector plug 500 is a USB jack 555. The USBjack 555 includes a USB connector plug port 565 for receipt of the USBconnector plug 520 and an alignment post port 590 for receipt of thealignment post 525. A pair of electrical contacts 595 and 596 aredefined along each side of the alignment post port 590 for engagementwith the power contacts 530 defined along each side of the alignmentpost 525. Interior of the alignment post port 590 is a locking latchdetent for engagement with the locking latch 540 when the USB connectorplug 500 is connected to the USB jack 555. A separate power jack 575with a power jack port 580 is disposed adjacent to the alignment postport 590 for connection of a separate electrical power contact to anelectronic device in which the USB jack assembly 555 is integrated.

[0037] As illustrated in FIG. 7, the alignment post 525 has a greaterlength than the USB connector plug 520 so that the alignment post 525engages the alignment post port 590 before the USB connector plug 520engages the USB connector plug port 565. This configuration allows thealignment post 525 to place the plug assembly 505 in a properorientation before introduction of the connector plug 520 into theconnector plug port 565. As is well known to those skilled in the art,small connector plugs, such as the mini-USB connector plug 520 arefragile and can become damaged if proper alignment of the connector plugto the connector plug port is not maintained during connection of theplug to the corresponding port.

[0038] Advantageously, use of the improved USB connector 505 of thepresent invention allows for the transfer of data via the connectorplug, in addition to the transfer of electrical power, utilizing oneconnector assembly 505, as illustrated in FIG. 7. Thus, the need toconnect a separate power cord and plug to the power jack 575 iseliminated. Additionally, use of the alignment post 525 and lockinglatch 540 insures a secure connection between the connector plug and thecorresponding jack.

[0039] It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that variousmodifications or variations may be made in the present invention withoutdeparting from the scope or spirit of the invention. Other embodimentsof the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art fromconsideration of the specification and practice of the inventiondisclosed herein.

I claim:
 1. An improved electrical connector, comprising: a mainconnector housing having; an upper pin housing, the upper pin housinghaving an outer surface and an inner surface, the outer surface forminga continuous surface with a surface of the main connector housing; theupper housing having a pair of electrical contact pins disposed alongthe inner surface of the upper housing; a lower pin housing disposed inspaced-apart relation to the upper pin housing, the lower pin housinghaving an outer surface and an inner surface, the outer surface forminga continuous surface with the surface of the main connector housing, theinner surface facing the inner surface of the upper pin housing; thelower pin housing having a pair of electrical contact pins disposedalong the inner surface of the lower pin housing; and a stereo plugprotruding from a front surface of the main connector housing betweenthe inner surface of the lower pin housing and the inner surface of theupper pin housing.
 2. The electrical connector of claim 1, whereby theelectrical connector is adapted to connect to a jack; wherein the stereoplug is adapted to connectively insert into a plug port of the jack, andwherein the upper pin housing and the lower pin housing are adapted toconnectively engage a forward plug port housing of the jack.
 3. Theelectrical connector of claim 2, whereby the stereo plug includes aplurality of electrical contact pins for engaging a correspondingplurality of electrical contacts disposed along an interior surface ofthe plug port of the jack.
 4. The electrical connector of claim 3,whereby the pair of electrical contact pins of the upper pin housingengage a corresponding pair of electrical contacts disposed along anupper surface of a forward section of the plug port housing of the jack.5. The electrical connector of claim 4, whereby the pair of electricalcontact pins of the lower pin housing engage a corresponding pair ofelectrical contacts disposed along a lower surface of a forward sectionof the plug port housing of the jack.
 6. The electrical connector ofclaim 3, whereby the plurality of electrical contact pins of the stereoplug comprise: a microphone contact; a right speaker contact; a leftspeaker contact; and an analog ground contact.
 7. The electricalconnector of claim 4, whereby the pair of electrical contact pins of theupper housing includes: a clock contact pin; and a digital ground pin.8. The electrical connector of claim 5, whereby the pair of electricalcontact pins of the lower housing includes: a data pin; and a power pin.9. The electrical connector of claim 5, whereby the jack is mountedwithin a casing of an electronic device, such that a face surface of theforward section of the jack is flush with an exterior surface of thecasing of the electronic device; whereby an upper housing receiving portis defined in the casing immediately above the upper surface of theforward section of the jack; whereby a lower housing receiving port isdefined in the casing immediately below the lower surface of the forwardsection of the jack; and whereby, when the electrical connector isconnected to the jack, the upper pin housing is inserted into the upperhousing receiving port and the lower pin housing is inserted into thelower housing receiving port such that the electrical connector is matedto the casing of the electronic device.
 10. The electrical connector ofclaim 9, whereby the electronic device is a hand-held personal computer.11. The electrical connector of claim 9, whereby the electronic deviceis a hand-held personal digital assistant.
 12. The electrical connectorof claim 9, whereby the electronic device is a wireless telephone. 13.The electrical connector of claim 9, whereby the electronic device is apaging device.
 14. An improved universal serial bus (USB) connector,comprising: a connector body; a USB connector plug defined along a firstend of the connector body and protruding perpendicularly from a frontface of the connector body; an alignment post defined adjacent to theUSB connector plug in spaced-apart relation to the USB connector plugand protruding perpendicularly from the front face of the connectorbody; and a first electrical power contact defined on the front face ofthe connector body immediately adjacent to a first side of the alignmentpost, and a second electrical power contact defined on the front face ofthe connector body immediately adjacent to a second side of thealignment post.
 15. The USB connector of claim 14, whereby: the USBconnector plug is adapted for connectively inserting into a mating plugport of a USB jack; the alignment post is adapted to connectively insertinto a corresponding alignment post port of the USB jack; and the firstand second electrical power contacts are adapted to engage first andsecond electrical power input contacts defined adjacent to first andsecond sides of the alignment post port of the USB jack.
 16. The USBconnector of claim 15, whereby the alignment post includes an alignmentpost guide member disposed along the first side of the alignment postfor guiding the alignment post into the alignment post port.
 17. The USBconnector of claim 16, whereby the alignment post has a greater lengththan the USB connector plug such that the alignment post inserts intothe alignment post port prior to insertion of the USB connector pluginto the USB connector plug port to ensure the USB connector plug is ina proper orientation when it is inserted into the USB connector plugport.
 18. The USB connector of claim 15, whereby the alignment postincludes a locking latch disposed on an upper surface of the alignmentpost for engaging a locking latch detent disposed along an interiorupper surface of the alignment post port for securing the USB connectorto the USB jack.